Second Timothy 2:15
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
I have heard more than once someone tell me that God helps those who help themselves, but the thing is, I could never find it in the Bible. The reason, of course, is that it’s not in the Bible. Here is what is closer to the truth from Scripture: God helps those who can’t help themselves. If we feel like we can help ourselves or, worse, help God to help us, then we are robbing God of glory. God will not help those who feel they can do it without Him and trust in themselves (Luke 18:9), but God is quick to help anyone who surrenders their will to Him and helps those who are helpless (Psalm 50:15; Luke 18:13).
This Too Shall Pass
Once again, I looked for this phrase, but it’s not in the Bible. The phrase “and it came to pass” is there, but that is not what “this too shall pass” is all about. The phrase “and it came to pass in those days” is found in Luke 2:1, but it’s not the same as “this too shall pass.” I’m not sure where that actually started. Maybe it sounded good and biblical, but it decidedly isn’t. I have to ask myself this same question: How much of what I know about the Bible is really in the Bible? I was surprised that there are dozens of phrases that people attribute to the Bible that really aren’t there at all, like “cleanliness is next to godliness” and “spare the rod; spoil the child.”
God Works in Mysterious Ways
This is certainly true, and for years the Gospel had been cloaked within the Old Testament until it was clearly revealed by Christ in the New Testament. This mystery of the Gospel, writes Paul, for ages and generations was hidden but was clearly revealed to us, His saints (Col. 1:26). Even the riches of the glory that is found in Christ was a mystery for hundreds of years (Col. 1:27), and this knowledge of the Gospel of salvation was hidden in Christ (Col. 2:2). The mystery of God’s will was set forth for us to see in Christ (Eph. 3:4), which was hidden for ages by God (Eph. 3:9), and for unbelievers today, it remains a mystery. So, yes, in a sense God does work in mysterious ways. However, that phrase is not in the Bible, but the concept is. So how much of what you and I “know” about the Bible is really in the Bible? Good question, isn’t it?
A Closing Prayer
Father God, I know you have hidden this profound Gospel message from the wise (at least in their own eyes) but revealed it us who are simple “little children “ (Matt. 11:25) so that no one can discover who Christ is by the intellect but only by Your Spirit. For that I thank You, and in Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen
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